Wairarapa Rural Outlook

17

www.age.co.nz Thursday, March 29, 2018

WAIRARAPA

Rural Outlook Ruamāhanga Whaitua reaching the end of its journey After four years, the Ruam˜hanga Whaitua Committee is close to reaching its ÿ nal recommendations.

We map its journey and get feedback from Federated Farmers Wairarapa Province President Jamie Falloon.

The Ruam˜hanga Whaitua Committee’s journey has been as long as the Ruamahanga itself.

But now, four years after it was launched, the process is drawing to a close.

The Ruam˜hanga Whaitua Committee, a group of local people tasked with recommending ways to maintain and improve the quality of Wairarapa’s fresh water, was established in December 2013.

The Committee also includes representatives of the councils and iwi authorities.

It has been working to produce a Whaitua Implementation Programme which will contain recommendations for the integrated management of land and water resources within the catchment of the Ruamahanga

MARCH 2018 EDITION

which will be set out in Greater Wellington Regional Council’s Natural Resources Plan.

This has involved extensive discussions and knowledge gathering across the community to understand local people’s concerns and ideas, including farmers, environmentalists, experts in science, policy and economics, alongside input from iwi, and the wider community.

The policy development phase of the committee process is coming to an end and in June the committee will be ÿ nalising its recommendations and presenting them to Greater Wellington Regional Council.

During April the complete package of policy proposals will aired for discussion in public meetings around the region.

Late last year the committee invited landowners including farmers, directly a˛ ected by any changes to water allocation, to a series of workshops to get their feedback.

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Thursday, March 29, 2018 Wairarapa Times-Age

WAIRARAPA Rural Outlook MARCH 2018 EDITION

More carrot and less stick for Ruamāhanga Whaitua CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Since then the committee has put together a set of proposed recommendations on water allocations which it has forwarded to directly affected landowners for further feedback.

In May the committee will put together what it hopes will be a coherent, realistic and achievable package that will need a wholeof-committee consensus.

In June its recommendations will be presented to Te Upoko Taiao (GWRC Natural Resources Plan committee) which may seek clarification on points prior to the Whaitua Implementation Programme being presented to the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

Overseeing the entire process has been Alastair Smaill, manager of the Whaitua programme.

Once accepted by Greater Wellington Regional Council, he says the committee’s recommendations on water and land management will “effectively become the blueprint for land and water management for the foreseeable future.”

The same process is currently been carried out in Porirua’s whaitua and three more have yet to start for Wellington/ Hutt Valley, Kapiti Coast, and

Alastair Smaill, manager of the Whaitua programme (right) with Peter Gawith, Chair of the Whaitua committee.

Wairarapa’s east coast rivers that flow out to the Pacific - “there will be a few years before that one starts.”

The five Whaitua will feed into the Greater Wellington Natural Resources Regional Plan. This is a response to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater, which has to be in place by 2025.

In addition to regulations, programmes will be implemented to assist in achieving the objectives of the Ruamāhanga Whaitua Plan such as education and riparian enhancement programmes.

There will be regulations including limits in the final plan, Mr Smaill says, “such as the

amount of water that can be extracted and maximum amount of contaminants that can be put in, but we primarily want to achieve the plan by taking a non-regulatory approach working with land owners and other stake holders to achieve its aims.

“Some other parts of country are

going more for heavy regulation but we believe a persuasion approach is going to be more successful. It is about shifting people’s behaviour with both a carrot and a stick.

We decided to use more carrot and less stick.”

Reaction from those involved in the process has been mixed, Mr Smaill says.

However, he sees this approach as preferable to the old way which was the council making decisions, followed by litigation.

“This is quite a new way of doing things, finding out the interests and values of the community and then making decisions, rather than the council setting limits and telling people what to do. It is a giant step forward in policy decision-making.”

The most contentious issue for farmers has been around limits on the uptake of water, Mr Smaill says.

“The council has been testing particular changes with them.

We are still mulling over the responses and deliberating around those. We will probably have more conversations with farmers.”

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www.age.co.nz Thursday, March 29, 2018

WAIRARAPA Rural Outlook MARCH 2018 EDITION

A farmer’s view on the Ruamāhanga Whaitua process When contacted for his views on the proposed Ruamāhanga Whaitua Plan that has just been forwarded to land owners directly affected by its water allocation recommendations, Federated Farmers Wairarapa Province President Jamie Falloon admitted to not having a close look at it yet.

“To be honest, we are trying to get through more than a thousand pages of S42a reports for the Proposed Natural Resources Plan for our evidence for the next hearing which is due in a week.

“We have a serious capacity issue trying to deal with both processes at once while still running our business.”

The Ruamāhanga Whaitua Plan is one part of a pyramid of processes relating to water quality and management that will impact farmers in Wairarapa.

The Ruamahanga is one of five Whaitua plans that will form the Greater Wellington Regional Plan.

This in turn will be part of the National Policy Statement, which will be part of the National Environment Standards, which will be part of the

Resource Management Act. Overall, Jamie is supportive of the concept of a communitydriven, bottom-up approach.

But along the way there have been weakness in the process which have not been helpful.

Jamie believes the plan started off on the wrong foot by having a catchment for the Whaitua that included all of the rivers on the Wairarapa plain.

“It was always going to be an impossible process to model a full catchment. Each of the rivers needed its own process.”

Jamie supports the plan taking into account economic, environmental, cultural and social values, but feels at the beginning of the process the economic and social values were put on the backburner.

This has created an imbalance that has weighted solutions in favour of environmental and cultural values at the cost of economic and social ones.

The consequences of this are options that are not realistic, practical or the best possible choices to benefit the whole community.

Three or four community meetings over four years for each of the sub-catchments

of the Whaitua was too little.

Jamie also feels the committee members were overloaded.

“The rate of pay for their work initially was $2500 per year.

I think they missed a zero at the end of that, based on my previous experience of these processes.”

Jamie also feels like there has been a lack of transparency and communication.

“Not enough information has been given to parties.

Information is published randomly and well behind time and I know that members of the committee have struggled

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to gain meaningful feedback to add into the process.”

As to the specifics of the proposed plan, Jamie believes the consequences of reducing water use by 60 days a year for all land uses haven’t been well thought through.

He points to Akura Conservation Centre in Masterton which would be restricted in how many poplar and willow poles it can produce for hill country erosion protection work.

He is also concerned that farmers will be tempted to subdivide land closest to the rivers for lifestyle properties.

“There are presently limited economic dryland farming options when you are an irrigator. It’s not worth watering for part of the season and without an alternative that offers a competitive economic return, you will see houses built on some of our best growing soil.”

He also argues that some mitigation options haven’t been considered, especially small and large scale water storage.

“For example the Water Use Project is not being modelled. If you want to keep more water In the rivers in summer, then you need to store it, be it for rural or urban.

“It is worth noting that if there is a Wairarapa storage option consented, the use of the water must maintain water quality in its current band or limit and the swimming target from NPS FW 2017 must be met.”

Jamie says the Ruamāhanga Whaitua Committee is “definitely listening. This is a process that has to happen and the committee is genuine in wanting feedback about the process and impacts. They needed a lot of time and effort.

It is a big ask to do it properly.”

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Thursday, March 29, 2018 Wairarapa Times-Age

WAIRARAPA Rural Outlook MARCH 2018 EDITION

Managing sheep farms for profit in times of weather volatility

Wairere Ram stud Principal Derek Daniell shares his thoughts on managing extremes of climate

A ram hogget single mated to mixed age recorded ewes. All commercial ewes at Wairere have been mated to ram lambs since 1970.

It is mid-December as I write this, and that elusive rainbow and pot of gold is disappearing into the heat haze.

Just as the stage seemed set for a good year for sheep farmers, the (woollen) carpet has been pulled out from under our feet.

It’s so disappointing. Many of our clients have had a record lambing, mostly a tribute to ever improving management skills, and some contribution from improving genetic potential.

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of the nuances of weather/ pasture/animal interactions.

But then the outcome can be derailed by the climate. No other First World economy is so dependent on rainfall.

How to handle a poor spring?

Is there any way that we can protect our production systems from early drought?

In Australia, most sheep farmers lamb in the middle of winter. In drier parts of Australia they lamb in April, with most of the lambs gone by October.

These systems necessitate a lower stocking rate. In many

parts of New Zealand, earlier lambing has been proven less proÿ table than lambing in the spring when the pasture growth curve responds to higher spring temperatures.

So we are left with farming to an average season - and taking a knock when the weather doesn’t play ball. Having a higher component of trading stock, whether sheep or cattle, is the most common way to cope with seasonal variation. And earlier weaning is becoming more accepted as a management tool.

To quote veterinarian Trevor Cook who has been travelling

the world for some years, advising on sheep farming from a New Zealand perspective, “A lamb is a full ruminant at eight weeks of age.”

It’s all about feed quality from eight weeks, which drives the weight gain of lambs.

Ewe lactation performance after 56 days has a much reduced in° uence on weaning weight.

Fifty percent of total milk is produced in the ÿ rst four weeks of lactation. The lamb gets immune response from its mother’s milk, so a pre-wean drench can be knocked o˛ the to-do list.

Regardless of BCS (body condition score), weaned ewes will eat ÿ fty percent less.

In an average or good spring, many farmers wean at 90-100 days average lamb age in order to control the spring pasture surplus.

But in a poor spring, lambs on ewes with little milk will be growing below potential.

The ewes with little milk will include those rearing triplets, mixed age ewes more than 90 days into lactation, two tooth ewes after 80 days, and ewe hoggets after 70 days.

For example, if the mean hogget lambing date is October 15, then hoggets can be weaned just before Christmas”.

The other distinctive factor of the top ÿ ve percent of farmers is better timing. Do you keep your own rain gauge? Do you gather information on seasonal conditions in other parts of New Zealand?

Selling a week or two earlier, before the mainstream take action, can make a huge di˛ erence to per kilo returns.

Is there a breeding solution?

On the genetics front, Wairere has always had maximum selection emphasis on twins which grow the fastest.

And we have never penalised fat. And we have never selected small rams - big is beautiful.

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www.age.co.nz Thursday, March 29, 2018

WAIRARAPA Rural Outlook MARCH 2018 EDITION The faster that lambs get to sale weight the better.

This was well proven in the Poukawa breed trial near Hastings.

The progeny of the East Friesian/ Romney ewes were mostly up to slaughter weight in November, so earned twenty percent more revenue than the other breed crosses.

It may be that the average New Zealand slaughter weight for lamb continues to hover around 18.5kg rather than increasing to 20kg, but mature size will determine the potential for early growth.

Maternal versus terminal It has been a long held goal at Wairere to breed maternal sheep which grow as fast as terminal crosses, or are more profitable.

The gap is narrow, and sometimes favours the maternal, especially if lamb survival at birth, and the potential of a premium from surplus maternal ewe lambs is taken into account.

If sixty percent of lambs slaughtered each year are by maternal sires, and the remaining forty percent have half maternal genetics, then “80 percent of the genetics affecting the value of slaughter lambs come from maternal rams”.

Eating quality The recent launch of the Te Mana lamb brand has stimulated discussion around

Wairere composite ewe hoggets with lambs sired by Wairere Dominator terminal sires.

IMF (intramuscular fat) and Omega 3.

It is difficult to determine though, the percentage effect from sheep genetics versus the effect from lambs grazing high-octane forage, chicory and clover being the favoured feed post weaning.

Australian processors favour a much fatter carcass than would be acceptable under the New Zealand grading system. This is because around 43 percent is consumed domestically, and fresh lamb has better tenderness and taste with more body fat.

Hill country lamb can have IMF as low as one percent, especially in the late summer/autumn, when the digestibility of old pastures declines. But processor companies which are exporting chilled lamb say that they have only positive feedback re taste and tenderness, with product ageing during shipping around the world.

How to add value?

The value of lamb is steadily being enhanced, as what used to be regarded as secondary cuts are now being presented as signature dishes. The early mover was shanks, but dishes using shoulders, for example, have recently emerged as new favourites, with slow cook methods creating the difference.

But it’s not just the meat which is achieving a better all-round premium. The Global Animal Partnership (GAP) is a non-profit which seeks to promote the welfare of farmed animals by rating the welfare standards of various farmed animal products.

Whole Foods Market, a high end USA supermarket retailer, set up GAP as an independent operation. The outcome is that premiums can be obtained for some co-products as well.

This is all new ground for NZ lamb, and promises a brighter future.

Prepare for rain

Market at a new level?

Average Export Values (AEVs) for lamb peaked in October at $10.20/kg, just 37 cents lower than the record achieved in 2011.

Yet prices are holding well, despite bigger than normal weekly kill numbers in Australia over the past five months.

Couple this with the high price for mutton through the second half of the year, and the enduring strength of beef prices since 2014, and it appears that red meat is now more appreciated around the world.

There are parallels with some other natural products such as butter, where decades of bad press have been overturned by a realisation that the manufactured alternative isn’t as healthy as the experts used to say.

Australian sheep farmers have been on a hot streak for some years.

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This was reflected in recent sales of ewe lambs.

At Narracorte, South Australia, in November, the lowest price for a pen was $A230, the highest $A327 per head.

These lambs would be five to seven months old.

The high cost of buying in replacements, usually first cross Border Leicester/Merinos, is encouraging a move to selfreplacing flocks. Some auction sales of ram lamb sires have averaged $A2000 plus this spring.

Historical perspective At Wairere, daily rainfall figures have been sent to NIWA for 65 years. On average, one year in three has a prolonged dry period.

Average rainfall is 1125mm, but winter wet/summer dry and a high wind run, accompanied by a high stocking rate (usually 750kg plus live weight per hectare at June 30th), create pressure points in most seasons.

Extremes include the six months October-March 1977-78, with 148mm, and SeptemberFebruary 1972-73, with 180mm.

Our ancestors have had to cope with volatility, so will we.

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Thursday, March 29, 2018 Wairarapa Times-Age

WAIRARAPA Rural Outlook MARCH 2018 EDITION

Farmers optimistic and pessimistic at same time Wairarapa farmers are generally optimistic about their businesses but not so keen about the new government.

Federated Farmers Wairarapa Province President Jamie Falloon says “farmers are reasonably upbeat about their own farm businesses at present.

“The markets are strong, they have had good rain and the grass is growing. But outside the farm there is a feeling of negativity surrounding the change of government and water quality issues.”

Federated Farmers’ January Farm Confidence Survey found that for the first time in two years, farmer optimism had decreased, including negative perceptions of the economy, farm profitability, farm production and farm spending.

Just over one-third of farmers perceived the general economic conditions to be good, and just over half had neutral perceptions.

While the recent rain had been good, the damage from the early drought weather had been done.

“A lot of people made decisions and got rid of stock, and bought in supplements, and dried off their herds, but once you make those decisions it’s very difficult to catch up.”

Similar to the July 2017 survey, the greatest concern for farmers was regulation and compliance costs.

The country’s biosecurity (21.3 per cent) was the issue farmers most wanted the government to treat as its top priority.

“There is concern about Mycoplasma bovis in Wairarapa, a lot of the bull beef animals come from the diary sector and from the South Island.

“Until there is a view of how wide spread it is, there is uncertainty.”

NIWA is predicting above normal rainfalls for Wairarapa.

Hotter weather and more rain predicted for Wairarapa over autumn Temperatures from now till May are predicted by NIWA to be above average.

Wairarapa is likely to have higher temperatures than normal as well as more rain than average, it says.

“With La Niña’s influence waning over the next three month period, New Zealand’s regional climate over March – May 2018 is expected to be driven by the warmer than average ocean waters that are present around the country, in the Tasman Sea,

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In Wairarapa, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, temperatures are very likely to be above average (70% chance).

Rainfall totals are most likely to above normal (45% chance).

Soil moisture levels and river flows are equally likely to be in the above normal range (40% chance) or near normal range (40% chance), NIWA says.

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and in the Southwest Pacific Ocean, which will influence surface air temperatures and the likelihood of significant rainfall events.

Outlook Summary “March – May 2018 temperatures are forecast to be above average for all regions of New Zealand with high confidence (60 to 70% chance).

As autumn progresses however, frosts may occur from time to time in cooler locations.”

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www.age.co.nz Thursday, March 29, 2018

WAIRARAPA Rural Outlook MARCH 2018 EDITION

Rural women’s networks flourishing Womens’ farming networks are springing up all around Wairarapa, dispelling isolation and acting as a hub for sharing ideas.

One of these is the Wairarapa Rural Women's Initiative, established three and a half years ago by three sheep & beef farmers - Ellie Cranswick, Lynley Wyeth and Lucy Thorneycraft.

“We were three farming ladies who all had the same thought that while there is quite a lot of support for dairy women, not so much for sheep & beef farming partners,” says Ellie who farms at Gladstone with her husband Tom. The mission statement of the group is “to strengthen agribusiness in Wairarapa by bringing together women who are fundamental partners in their rural business, by providing an opportunity to learn, teach and share ideas, evolve skills, provide leadership and build friendships.”

“That basically sums us up!”

The Initiative has two discussion groups of around 25 women each who meet every six weeks.

The discussion days are a mix of theory and practical with some of the subjects covered to date

A Discussion Day for the Wairarapa Rural Womens’ Initiative.

including succession planning, sheep nutrition, visits to studs and meat works, personal health, dog training, and business administration tools.

All the women are actively involved in physical farm work and/or administration and “big picture planning in their own business” or are rural professionals.

Ellie points out that the Initiative is an incorporated society which means it has a totally independent and transparent perspective when it comes to

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Ellie can be contacted by phone on 06 372 7050 or email ejcranswick@gmail.com Three Wairarapa women are now at the helm of the Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) as regional leaders.

Rachel van Beek of Greytown has been a regional leader for five years, and has been joined in recent months by Nadia Wither of Carterton and Kate Lovegrove of Greytown.

“DWN is all about connecting dairy women and offering

up information and skills… in a different setting than the discussion groups that men tend to go to,” says Rachel.

“We sometimes get sheep and beef farmers, so it’s not specific to dairy, and we sometimes do get males come along, so it’s not a rigid criterion - everyone is more than welcome.

“You don’t have to be tied to a cow, you don’t even have to have gumboots.”

Nadia, who has lived in Wairarapa for about seven years with her dairy farmer husband,

didn’t know anything about farming prior to the move.

“I came into the region, not knowing anything about dairy farming, and not knowing anyone – that’s when I joined up with DWN – to meet other women like myself.

“Being on a farm, you might not actually get to see other people other than your husband and kids in a day.

“So, it’s good to have something like this to get out and meet people.”

Kate grew up on a sheep and beef farm in Northland, and is now the rural account manager for ASB. With no membership fees, she said DNW was a great way for like-minded women to connect and learn how to succeed in the farming industry.

“We do a lot of different dairy modules, but we also do events to support people personally.

“We’ve done some mental health ones, we’ve done financial management, staffing, health and safety – anything that is relevant to our dairy women.”

For more information on the Dairy Women’s Network go to www.dwn.co.nz/get-in-touch/

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Thursday, March 29, 2018 Wairarapa Times-Age

WAIRARAPA Rural Outlook MARCH 2018 EDITION

Poplars and Willows for the Wairarapa Hill Country Field Day This Beef & Lamb NZ field day on Wednesday 4th April from 12:45pm to 5pm, will look at poplar and willow plantings on two contrasting farms – one where the trees have been established for several decades, the other where a large-scale planting programme is underway.

Poplars and willows have the potential to provide multiple benefits in Wairarapa hill country.

They reduce the risk of slips and soil erosion, provide shade, shelter and fodder for livestock, encourage birds and invertebrates, and add colour and variety in the landscape.

What is more, the Greater Wellington Regional Council provides advice and support for planting, and the trees can be eligible for entry into the Emissions Trading Scheme.

So what’s not to like?

The event is free and open to all.

Meet at Pakaraka Woolshed, 374 Lees Pakaraka Road, Masterton The field day kicks off with a farm tour so please do not arrive any time later than 1pm.

4WD vehicles are required with appropriate tyres.

After the farm tour at Pakaraka, everyone will re-convene at Wainuioru Hall for further talks (3.30pm) with a barbecue and refreshments to finish.

The speakers are Dr Ian McIvor (Poplar and Willow Research Trust), local farmers with experience of planting and managing poplars and willows, and the Greater Wellington Regional Council Land Management team.

TOPICS WILL BE: • The science: How poplars and willows stabilise slopes.

• New poplar and willow cultivars to suit different site types and objectives.

• Planning new plantings.

• Costs, and assistance available.

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Lifestyle property market buoyant Wairarapa lifestyle properties have captured the attention of buyers from outside the region.

These are selling strongly, says Farmlands Real Estate Branch Manager Tim Falloon.

“Some really good prices are being paid and places are selling quickly.”

The demand is primarily being driven by buyers from Auckland and Wellington, says Tim. There is a shortage of farms for sale at the moment.

Dairy farm sales in particular, are lacklustre throughout New Zealand.

There are few sheep & beef farms in Wairarapa for sale but those that are, are selling very well and getting strong prices.

Whatever the property, Tim advises that good presentation is always important.

“Well presented properties generally sell more quickly.”

For New Zealand, there were 52 fewer farm sales (-11.9%) for the three months ended February 2018 than for the three months ended February 2017, according to data released by the Real Estate Institute of NZ last week.

Overall, there were 384 farm sales in the three months ended February 2018, compared to 396

farm sales for the three months ended January 2018 (-3.0%), and 436 farm sales for the three months ended February 2017.1524 farms were sold in the year to February 2018, 13.5% fewer than were sold in the year to February 2017, with 20.3% more finishing farms, 19.0% more dairy farms and 32.4% fewer grazing and 36.2% fewer arable farms sold over the same period.

The median price per hectare for all farms sold in the three months to February 2018 was $27,523 compared to $27,395 recorded for three months ended February 2017 (+0.5%).

The median price per hectare fell 2.6% compared to January.

The REINZ All Farm Price Index fell 4.7% in the three months to February 2018 compared to the three months to January 2018.

Compared to February 2017 the REINZ All Farm Price Index rose 0.2%.

The REINZ All Farm Price Index adjusts for differences in farm size, location and farming type, unlike the median price per hectare, which does not adjust for these factors.

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www.age.co.nz Thursday, March 29, 2018

Our smashing group of

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CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR

FARMING FOR THE FUTURE Farming for the Future returns on Tuesday 10th April with one of its strongest line-ups yet. In its ÿ fth year, the Farming for the Future 2018 seminar will support farmers to respond to the challenge of climate change, says Heather Atkinson, seminar organiser, farmer and president of event co-host South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group.

This year’s seminar at Carterton Events Centre will include a stellar line-up of farming and rural industry speakers who will share positive ideas for responding to climate change and other challenges the industry faces.

“As farmers, it’s in our blood to challenge the way we do things,” says Heather. One of the best ways to do that is to get o° the farm and spend time with other smart people who have the best interests of farming at heart.

“Susie Ferguson from Morning Report on Radio New Zealand will MC this year’s event. Susie’s authoritative and comprehensive perspective on the issues facing New Zealand will make it one not to be missed.”

Among the speakers will be Dr Alex Pezza, a senior environmental scientist at Greater Wellington Regional Council who says Wairarapa is a hot spot for climate change.

“Wairarapa has just had its hottest summer in 110 years of continuous temperature measurements – it is very signiÿ cant. The knowledge of climate cycles is vitally important for successful farming, and most farmers have a remarkable knowledge of what’s going on.

“But to be able to understand what the future will throw at us in the midst of so many climate variables is a real challenge. We need to share our knowledge and ideas.”

Another of the speakers is KPMG Farm Enterprise Specialist Julia Jones. Her objective is to ‘inspire a new generation of farmers.’

Julia will talk through ‘what is changing, what’s here now, and what we can do as farmers today to maintain relevance for the future. Disruption will continue to impact us but opportunity will continue to empower us.’

Hawke’s Bay Farmer Greg Hart believes “now is the time to “What if our food production systems were regenerating the Earth, sequestering carbon, building healthy soil which is nature’s natural ÿ lter system for clean water. We can produce healthy food while restoring eco systems.” rethink everything we do and food production is going to be key.”

“What if we changed our mindset that sees humans as inevitably damaging to the planet.”

“What if our food production systems were regenerating the Earth, sequestering carbon, building healthy soil which is nature’s natural ÿ lter system for clean water. We can produce healthy food while restoring eco systems.”

Tickets for Farming for the Future are $45 (students $30) and can be purchased when registering at www.farmingforthefuture.org.nz or through Eventÿ nda.

Farming for the Future was created by the South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group and the Mangaterere Restoration Society.

To ÿ nd out more about Farming for the Future visit www.farmingforthefuture.org.nz

Farming for the

Future

SUSTAINABILITY

IDEAS

INSPIRATION

Journalist and broadcaster, Suzie co-presents RNZ’s Morning Report, New Zealand’s highest rating radio show. Suzie was a war correspondent for six years including the 2003 invasion of Iraq. She’s also covered the immediate aftermath of disasters including the 2004 Asian tsunami and 2005 Pakistan earthquake.

Dr Alex Pezza - Climate Scientist, Greater Wellington Regional Council

We hear so much about climate change and that we need to respond and adapt – but what is actually going to happen in Wairarapa? Alex has been a climate scientist and lecturer for almost 15 years. He had a leading role in the release of a major climate change report in August 2017 with highresolution climate change maps and impacts assessment for the ÿ rst time for the Wellington region.

Julia Jones - KPMG Farm Enterprise Specialist If the climate, consumer expectations, markets, food production and technology are all changing around us, how do we adapt in a smart way? In 2007 Julia completed an Agri programme through Harvard Business School in China which ÿ red her passion for international agriculture. In 2013 she worked with the KPMG team in Russia focusing on agricultural strategy, and in 2015 she co-authored KPMG emerging leaders Agribusiness Agenda. She recently received the MPI/Agmardt Emerging Leaders Scholarship.

Greg Hart - Hawke’s Bay farmer

Greg Hart grew up on a family farm in Canterbury. After gaining a Bachelor of Agriculture from Massey University and working in the agriculture industry, Greg and wife Rachel worked in partnership with Greg’s parents to develop Mangarara Station, transitioning from traditional sheep & beef, to a farm of the future by developing diverse, integrated, regenerative farming systems.

Paul Crick - Director Farms for Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre

How will the next generation of farmers respond to environmental and market changes? Paul Crick has managed high country farms in the South Island and consulted in South America. Paul is involved in research projects and farmer learning groups with Massey University, AgResearch, and Beef & Lamb Genetics. He has established one of Taratahi’s sheep & beef properties as one of the ÿ rst Focus Farms for Farm IQ.

Dot Bissett - Farming & Retail, Wee Red Barn

Success now means making direct and enduring relationships with consumers.

We need be able to tell an honest and passionate story about who we are and what we produce. Dot and husband Alan started the Wee Red Barn north of Masterton in 2007 where they brought their enthusiasm for gateto-plate production, transforming 8.1 hectares into a diverse farm of grapes, strawberries, raspberries, other berries and vegetables, all of which is processed and sold on-site.

Stephen Davies Howard - Chair, Centre for Space Science Technology (CSST)

Every hour of the day satellites gather immense amounts of data about our natural resources, weather, land use and movements of people, stock and machinery.

What if we had access to all this data and used it to catapult our primary production into the future? Based in Alexandra, CSST is a research institute with a mandate to help regional industries use Earth observation data in their operations and R&D activities, using satellite, aerial, drone and in-situ data to drive smart, data-driven decision-making.

Register now

General $45 Student $30

www.farmingforthefuture.org.nz CARTERTON EVENTS CENTRE . HOLLOWAY STREET . CARTERTON

10 APRIL 2018

9.00 AM - 4.30 PM

26

Thursday, March 29, 2018 Wairarapa Times-Age

WAIRARAPA Rural Outlook MARCH 2018 EDITION

Gypsy Day this year will require extra care.

Extra vigilance required when managing dairy farm changeovers this year

Changing farms this coming May to June requires extra special precautions because of Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis).

M. bovis is spread by the movement of infected animals and incoming infected cows (including calves, heifers, bulls, beef cattle as well as milking cows) can bring the disease on to the farm, even if they show no signs of having it.

Once in a herd the disease is spread by close animal to animal contact.

While M. bovis is a new disease in New Zealand, if it becomes endemic, it can be managed, much like TB, leptospirosis, BVD and Johne’s disease.

Dairy farms all over the country are being tested via bulk milk testing of individual herds and cows from the sick mob for the presence of the organism.

Individual farmers should know the results two weeks after

the final milk sample has been collected.

A ‘not detected’ result can give farmers a degree of confidence that the herd is free of the disease. However, the tests are not 100% accurate, due to the difficult nature of the organism.

Those who use the sharemilking and contract milking business model are particularly vulnerable to financial shocks should a disease like M. bovis come on to the farm.

There are some simple precautions sharemilkers, contract milkers and farm owners can take to minimise the risk.

You are a farm owner, looking to bring on a new contract milker or sharemilker 1. Ask where any incoming stock are coming from.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Ask for bulk milk M. bovis test results of the source herd(s) if available.

Ask if the stock have been mingling with other cattle – can you get any information about these other herds, such as bulk milk testing results?

Ask about the health of the incoming stock – including calf health, mastitis, pneumonia, ear infections, swollen joints.

Ask if the NAIT recordings have been completed for all cow, calf, cattle movements.

Set aside land where new animals can be kept, separate to stock already on farm, for seven days for quarantine purposes.

Check to see that all equipment coming on farm is clean and dry.

8.

Inform the incoming sharemilker or contract milker about any M. bovis tracing by MPI that has been carried out on the farm, and any instructions given by MPI that may affect how the herd is managed.

You are a sharemilker or contract milker, shifting on to a new farm 1. Buy animals from as few different farms as possible. Ask for the bulk milk M. bovis test results of the 2017/18 herd if available 2. Supply the farm owner with any M. bovis test results you may have.

3. Ask if the herd has been mixed with any other animals in the past 12 months, including at wintering.

HERE

Ask if it is possible to get the bulk milk M. bovis test results of that herd.

4. Ask about the health of the cows and calves on the farm during the 2017/18 season – including calf health, mastitis, pneumonia, ear infections, swollen joints.

5. Complete all NAIT movement recordings.

6. When bringing new animals on to the farm, keep them separate from others for seven days and check them for signs of ill health.

7. Clean and dry all incoming machinery and equipment.

8. Ask if the farm has been subject to any tracing from MPI for M. bovis.

Source: Dairy NZ

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27

www.age.co.nz Thursday, March 29, 2018

WAIRARAPA Rural Outlook MARCH 2018 EDITION

Advice for beef farmers on Mycoplasma Bovis Beef + Lamb New Zealand is working closely with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on the response to the Mycoplasma Bovis outbreak.

While this productionlimiting bacterial disease is mainly spread by direct contact between infected cattle and equipment, feeding raw milk from infected cows to calves is known to present a high risk of disease spread.

Rearers should try and minimise the number of farms milk is sourced from and consider using powdered milk to completely remove the risk of importing the disease this way – although this may prove impractical for many.

Farmers should also look at the health history of any herds they are sourcing calves from, particularly in respect to mastitis and lameness in cows and pneumonia and lameness in calves.

According to information from MPI, Mycoplasma bovis is not thought to be transmitted in urine and faeces and is not windborne or spread in running water. It is a disease that moves relatively slowly between farms and other animals cannot carry or transmit it.

Farmers should consider standard biosecurity advice to prevent their stock coming into noseto-nose contact with neighbour’s cattle.

This could be achieved by creating boundary fence buffer zones using electric out-riggers or a separate electric fence two metres back from the boundary.

B+LNZ urges farmers to clean and disinfect

B+LNZ urges farmers to clean and disinfect footwear, protective clothing and equipment of visitors working with their cattle

footwear, protective clothing and equipment of visitors working with their cattle.

Where possible limit cattle movements on to your farm and determine the health history of any cattle you are looking at buying or bringing on to your property.

This outbreak highlights the importance of keeping NAIT records and ensuring Animal Status Declarations are completed and retained.

While Mycoplasma bovis is a production limiting disease, it poses no threat to human health or food safety.

Fortunately, this disease is unlikely to impact on international trade as the disease is not a risk in animal products.

Every other country in the world has Mycoplasma bovis in their cattle herds.

WE DO

AT

Evidence from overseas indicates this is unlikely to present a significant management problem for most farmers running extensive production systems.

Symptoms of Mycoplasma bovis include untreatable mastitis, abortions, swollen joints and severe arthritis or synovitis in cattle of all ages.

Infected calves may present with severe pneumonia – starting as a hacking cough, ear infections (starting with a droopy ear and progressing on to ear discharges and a head tilt) and conjunctivitis.

Anyone concerned about their stock should contact their vet or MPI on 0800 80 99 66.

MPI is sending out regular updates on the situation. To receive the

updates by email, contact MBovis2017_Liaison@mpi. govt.nz or you can find them on the MPI website or by calling MPI on 0800 00 83 33 MPI has a welfare contact 027 447 4610 or

email: mbwellbeing@ asurequality.com.

The Rural Support Trust is also here to help, and B+LNZ supports and endorses their work. You can contact the RST at 0800 787 254.

For updates, including meetings in your region, keep an eye on our Facebook page and Twitter.

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28

Thursday, March 29, 2018 Wairarapa Times-Age

WAIRARAPA Rural Outlook MARCH 2018 EDITION

High threat of facial eczema in Wairarapa Wairarapa is currently experiencing high spore counts for facial eczema.

Assure Quality publishes weekly reports on spore counts on its website www. asurequality.com which it sources from vets throughout New Zealand.

It advises that when local pasture spore counts are trending upwards of 20,000 spores/g and weather conditions look favourable for sporulation, farmers should do their own farm’s pasture spore counts week to week and implement facial eczema control and prevention strategies.

For the week ending Thursday 22 March it notes that due to a very high result the scale for the Y-axis has been changed to a log2 scale with the highest count in Wairarapa 355,000, lowest 22,000 and average 154,000 spores/g.

During summer and autumn months warm, humid conditions together with dead litter in pasture support the growth of the fungus (Pithomyces chartarum ) in pasture.

Animals graze toxic pasture and once in the rumen the spores release a mycotoxin

sporidesmin, which then enters the blood stream eventually finding its way into the liver.

The toxin specifically attacks the cells of the bile duct resulting in the liver being unable to process and excrete waste products and phylloerythrin, a chlorophyll breakdown product.

Infected animals display signs of photosensitisation and look distressed.

The first signs are often reddening and swelling of skin exposed to the sun (i.e. around the eyes, ears, lips and nose) as well as restlessness, shaking and rubbing of the head and ears, and seeking shade, according to information provided on www. asurequality.com Here’s some advice from Beef & Lamb NZ on dealing with the issue.

Facial Eczema (FE) is caused by spores of a fungus growing on the litter in the base of the sward.

They release a toxin which attacks the liver.

It is a serious disease that affects sheep and cattle and can be fatal. Your losses are much greater than they appear.

FE, when no symptoms are visible, can reduce lifetime

productivity by up to 25 per cent.

There are practical ways in which you can reduce your losses. You should use two or three methods together.

Breeding for increased tolerance to FE should be your first line of defence.

Buying FE-tolerant rams will make a great difference in only a few years, but you have to

ATTENTION FARMERS GET YOURYOU ARE WHETHER LOOKING AT BUILDDRAINAGE ING AN ARENA SORTED FOR FROM SCRATCH OR IMPROVING WINTER AN EXISTING ARENA THE TEAM AT • Land drainage

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be consistent in only bringing tolerant rams into your flock.

You can give all or part of your flock a zinc bolus, which lasts six weeks, or dose with zinc oxide weekly or fortnightly to reduce liver damage.

For large numbers, you can spray zinc on pasture.

Quit stock early, build up feed reserves, and aim for light rotational grazing.

Most vet clinics have a spore counting service.

If one is not available, get together with other farmers and organise a spore counting service (persuade your vet clinic to offer the service, hire someone to do the counts).

Spore counts will help you identify the safer parts of the farm (the shady, windy places).

Fungicide sprayed before the onset of FE season will reduce spore counts for five to six weeks. Use these pastures for your replacement ewe lambs and hoggets.

Aim to be lightly stocked through the danger period.

Neighbouring farmers should get together to share knowledge and hear advisers.

Don’t relax precautions too soon – a few cool nights or heavy rain doesn’t mean danger has passed. Once spore counts rise, pastures remain toxic until the spores disappear.

Faecal spore counting offers a method of determining how much challenge has occurred to the animals.

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